Track construction



Oct..18, 1938. ca. B. ANTHONISEN TRACK CONSTRUCTION a Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1955 Inventor TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 13, 1935 :5 sheet -shed 2 I V/J 49 1728 515 158 4g 55 i4 i6 15 i8 2'2 iOa' G5 (04 Inventor (94' $1 Georg B. Anthonisen 3 Shefls-Sheec 3 Georg B. Anrho'nisen Pm v Jlttorneus G. B. ANTHONISEN TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 13, 1935 Oct. 18, 1938.

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACK CONSTRUCTION Georg B. Anthonisen, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application July 13,

22 Claims.

My invention relates to track construction and has for an object to provide a construction in which greater strength is procured without the use of additional material.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a track construction in which the rails are firmly and securely attached to one another and to the ties on which they are supported.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a track construction which can be easily installed with a minimum amount of labor.

Another object of the invention resides in the specific construction of the various parts of the invention by means of which the desired results are procured.

An object of a tie plate to which the rail may be easily attached.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a construction embodying the rail and tie plate, whereby breakage of the flange of the rail where the same rests upon the tie plate is reduced.

An object of the invention resides in providing an angle bar adapted to be increased in strength by virtue of the construction of the rail and tie plate. Another object of the invention resides in providing a tie plate comprising a body portion on which the rail base rests and having two or more spaced abutments between which the edges of the rail base are disposed.

A feature of the invention resides in spacing said abutments apart a distance greater than the width of the rail base and in providing a key extending between one of said abutments and the juxtaposed edge of the rail base for holding the rail attached to the tie plate.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the face of one or both of the abutments inclined to provide a dovetailed groove adjacent the edge of the rail base and in constructing the key with a dovetailed tongue adapted to enter said groove.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the key and the tie plate with juxtaposed parts, one of said parts having a depression therein and the other having a lug pref erably in the form of a screw detachably secured thereto and adapted to enter said depression for limiting the movement of the tongue along said groove.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the tongue wedge shaped and in arranging the abutment to form a tapered groove whereby the invention resides in providing quickly and 1935, Serial No. 31,228

the key is urged toward the edge of upon movement of A still further object of the invention the rails the tongue along the groove.

resides in providing a spring acting between the key and tie plate, said spring serving to cause movement of the tongue along the inclined face of the abutment for the purpose of urging the key toward the rail base.

Another object of the invention resides in utilizing a compression coil spring and arranging said spring in a manner to encircle the s An object of the ing the underside dinally extending viding the body of of the rail base with aid screw.

invention resides in constructa longituhollow or concavity and in prothe tie plate on which the rail rests with a protuberance or convex surface fitting into said concavity.

A still further object of the invention resides in the specific construction of the protuberance, whereby stresses on the base of the rail are reduced in such a manner as to prevent of the rail base.

breakage Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a track illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shown in Fig. 1 with structure the splice bars removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of the taken on taken on of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5 and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional detail view line 'I-'l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the tie plate shown in Fig. 3.

taken on a modification of Fig. 9 is a plan View similar to Fig. 1 showing still another form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the shown in Fig. 9 with structure the splice bars removed.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional detail view taken on line ll'-ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan sectional detail view line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

taken on My improved track construction embodies rails constructed in a particular manner, tie plates app cable thereto and constructed in c onformity therewith, and splice bars or angle bars also constructed in conformity with the particular construction of the rails, all of these parts cooperating to produce an economic track construction of high merit and utility. The various parts of my improved track construction will now be described in detail.

In the drawings, I have shown the ends of two adjoining rails Ill and Mia and the associated structure used in conjunction therewith. Rails l9 and Ma being identical in construction, only rail ED will be described in detail. The rail I is constructed with a head 52 on which the wheels of the rolling stock carried by the track travel and a web l3 connected thereto. The web 13 issues upwardly from a base M which is of a suitable width to give the desired strength to the rail. The base I4 is formed upon the underside l5 thereof with a hollow I6 which extends longitudinally throughout the length of the rail and which in the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed, is preferably in the form of a concavity extending from one lateral edge I! of the base M to the other lateral edge l8 thereof. In the drawings, the concavity or hollow I6 is of the full width of the rail, though, if desired, the same may be of lesser lateral extent, providing the same is arranged medially of the lateral edges of the rail base. The base I4 of the rail is preferably first rolled in the customary manner and thereafter bent out of the plane of the bottom thereof to form the concavity Hi. In thus rolling the section, pressure is applied to the upper surface of the rail outwardly of a locality indicated by the reference numeral [9 in Fig. 7 leaving a surface on either side of the web [3 of predetermined angularity for a purpose to be presently more fully referred to. The adjoining surfaces 2] have different degrees of angularity or convexity, sloping more abruptly than the surfaces 29. By constructing the rails in this manner the height of the rail is increased without increasing the weight. This increases the moment of inertia of the rail and consequently its strength. The arch action of the base of the rail also enhances its strength.

For the purpose of splicing the adjoining rails IO and lila, splice bars or angle bars such as indicated at 22 and 23 in Fig. 5 are used. These bars are constructed with upper and lower ribs 66 and 61 which are formed with beveled surfaces 24 and 25 engaging the heads l2 of the rails upon the under surfaces 26 thereof and the rail base l4 upon the surfaces 20 thereof. Bolts 27 passing through said splice bars and the web l3 of the rail hold the parts in proper position. Due to the construction of the base M of the rail ID, the rib 6'! which extends outwardly from the major portion of the splice bar may be bent downwardly so that the portion 68 of surface 25 which lies outwardly of the line IQ of the surface 2d of the rail base has a greater degree of inclination than the other portion thereof. This increases the moment of inertia of the angle bar without increasing its weight, thereby increasing the strength of the same. It will readily become apparent that the above noted increase in strength of the angle bar, and the consequential increase in the strength of the entire-track construction is made possible by the particular construction of the rail base l4.

In the use of my invention, tie plates are preferably used on each tie and particularly under the joints. In the drawings, a tie plate II is shown which supports both of the rails I0 and Illa. The particular manner in which the rails cooperate With the tie plate being identical, the following description will refer to rail It! only. The tie plate ll comprises a plate-like body portion 28 which is of a suitable length and of a width considerably greater than the width ofv the rail base M. This body portion has issuing upwardly from it two spaced abutments 29 and 30 which are disposed a distance apart greater than the width of the rail base l4, and which are disposed inwardly from the lateral edges of the tie plate to provide an intervening portion 3! which is constructed with a bearing surface 32 on which the rail rests and with marginal portions 33 and 34 by means of which the tie plate may be secured to the tie. The under surface 35 of the tie plate is preferably planiform and rests directly upon the tie.

The edge 18 of the rail base i4 is adapted to extend up to a substantially vertical shoulder 36 formed on abutment 36 which limits the movement of. the said rail laterally in one direction. This abutment is formed with an overhanging flange 3? which overlies the base M of the rail I0 and which limits movement of this portion of the base away from the tie plate. In actual use the distance between the flange 3'! and the body portion 3! of the tie plate is somewhat greater than the thickness of the rail base !4 at the edge 48 thereof. This leaves a space 38 there between which permits of a slight movement of the rail base away from the tie plate.

The abutment '29 as previously brought out is spaced from the edge ll of the rail base Hi. The face 39 of this abutment forms another shoulder similar to the shoulder 36 of the abutment 30. This shoulder is beveled, being closest to the rail base at its upper end so as to form a longitudinally extending dovetailed groove 4%) in conjunction with the edge I! of said rail base. Cooperating with this groove is a key 4| which functions in a manner similar to abutment 30 and flange 3'! to engage the rail base on the opposite side thereof and to hold the same securely attached to the tie plate. This key may be constructed of a relatively softer material than the tie plate or rail to take up the wear occasioned through lateral strains.

The key 4! includes a longitudinally extending tongue 42 which is dovetailed and of such dimensions as to fit within the dovetailed groove 40. This key is preferably of a length less than the distance between ties or tie plates so that the said key may be readily inserted into the groove 46 and slid longitudinally thereof until the same occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The key 4! is constructed with an overhanging flange 43 which overlies the upper surface 2! of the rail base 14 adjacent the edge I! thereof and which serves a purpose similar to that of the flange 31 on abutment 30. This flange in normal position is also slightly spaced from the upper surface 2| of the rail base I4 to permit of slight movement of the said base away from the tie plate thereby preventing excess pumping of the tie. The edge 80 of said flange 43 is beveled as shown in Fig. 6 to facilitate removal of the splice bar from the rail joint.

The key 4! is held in position with respect to the tie plate by means of a screw 44. This screw is formed with a wrench head 45 by means of which the same may be rotated and also has a threaded shank 46 adapted to screw into threads 4'! formed in the upper portion of the key 4|.

The extreme end 48 of the shank 46 of screw 44 may be turned down to eliminate the threads and serves as a lug for limiting movement of the key I with respect to the tie plate. This lug enters a depression or concavity 49 in the abutment 29 and limits the movement of the key 4| with respect to the tie plate. For the purpose of preventing accidental disengagement of the screw 44 from the key 4!, a lock washer 50 is placed between the head 45 of said screw and the upper surface of said key. Dueto the fact that the abutment 29 is constructed with a dovetailed face, removal of the key through upward movement is prevented and the screw 44 hence serves to hold the key in proper position and to prevent dislocation of the rail from the tie plate.

The tongue 42 of key 4| is constructed with a shoulder 5! which corresponds to the shoulder 36 of abutment 36. This shoulder engages the edge ll of the rail base l4. Shoulder 5| flares slightly outwardly as shown in Fig. 6 to permit of rocking of the rail on the rail seat. For the purpose of urging the shoulder 5| against the edge ll of rail base M, the face 39 of abutment 29 is arranged closer to the shoulder of abutment 30 at one end of the tie plate than the other so that the groove 40 becomes tapered. At the same time the tongue 42 is constructed wedge-shaped so that as the same is moved in the tapered groove 40 the shoulder 5| of key 4! is urged toward the edge ll of the rail base M. In order to move the key 4| for an appreciable distance longitudinally to procure wedge action as described, the dep-ression 49 is constructed elongated as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, whereby sufficient movement may be had to procure the desired frictional results.

In addition to the particular construction of the face 39 of the abutment 29 in the manner shown for the purpose of procuring wedge action, the upper surface 52 of abutment 29 and the portion 69 of surface 32 adjacent abutment 29 are arranged on a slight incline. Cooperating with the surface 52 is a flange 53 formed on key 4!. The tongue 42 l kewise cooperates with surface 69. The flange 53 and tongue 42 are also arranged in an inclined manner so that as the key travels along the groove 40 the said key is raised upwardly. Upward movement of the key causes the tongue 42 to ride along the beveled face 39 of abutment 29 which in turn crowds the key inwardly. urging the shoulder 5| thereof into enga ement with the edge H of the rail base l4. It will thus be seen that longitudinal movement of the key in one direction causes the said key to travel inwardly due. first to the disposition of the face 5| of abutment 29 and also due to the sliding movement of the tongue 42 of the key along the face 39 of said abutment by reason of the inclination of the surfaces 52 and 59 of the tie plate.

In order to maintain contact between the key 4| and the edge i! of the rail Hi. I have provided a compression coil spring 54 which encircles the lug 48 formed on the end of the screw 44 and which engages the shoulder 55 formed on said screw at the end of the threads thereof. This spring further seats upon the portion 59 of the upper surface 32 of the body portion 28 of the tie plate and urges the key 4| upwardly, causing the tongue 42 thereof to slide along the beveled face 39 of abutment 29. This spring thus maintains the shoulder 5| at all times in engagement wlth the edge H of the rail base M.

In the construction of my improved tie plate the rail sup-porting surface 32 of the body 28 is preferably arranged on a slight incline so that the flange engaging surface of the rail head tows slightly inwardly to conform to standard rail construction.

The formation of the supporting surface 32 of the tie plate il on which the rail base I4 rests is best shown in Fig. 3. This surface has a curved raised portion 53 in the center thereof, and an adjoining-surface indicated by the reference numeral 5?. The raised portion 56 of the sup-port ing surface constitutes a protuberance which in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, is circular in form, being preferably in the shape of segment of a large sphere. The protuberance 56 is so constructed that the center portion thereof instead of being spherical has a cylindrical portion isii between the two lines 58 and 59 indicated in 3. The curvature of the surfaces 55 and 63 is preferably the same as the curvature of the concavity or hollow I6 of the rail base M. The rail hence engages the surface 32 for a portion of the width of the cylindrical surface 60 thereof and is free from the protuberance outwardly therefrom. The surface 5'! of the body portion outwardly of the protuberance 56 is cylindrical in form and the axis of the same is transverse to the rail so that the said surface recedes from the surface 56 at the corners of the bearing surface 32 of the tie plate. It will thus be seen that at such corners, relief is provided so that the base i i of the rail is free from the same. The concave construction of the rail and the complement-a1 surface of the tie plate serve to restrain lateral movement of the rails with respect to the tie plate, thereby decreasing the wear on the keys. At the same time, breakage of the rail flange when the rail is subjected to lateral forces is greatly reduced. Due to the formation of the rail the movement of inertia of the rail is increased, producing a corresponding increase in without increase in weight.

For the purpose of attaching the tie plate to a tie the marginal portions 33 and 34 of the body portion 28 of the rectangular holes 5| extending therethrough.

through which suitable rail spikes 52 may be driven into the tie proper.

The manner of using my invention is as follows: After the ties have been laid the tie plates are applied to the ties and positioned thereon by means of a suitable rail gauge. The tie plates are then attached to the ties by means of the rail spikes 62 which are driven'through the holes 6| formed in the marginal portions 33 and 34 of the body portion 28 of the tie plates and into the ties. After the tie plates are in position, the rails are placed thereon and the bases thereof moved under the flanges 3i of the tie plates and until the edges l8 of said rails engage the shoulders 36 of the tie plates. Keys ii are now applied by insorting the tongues 42 thereof into the grooves 40 and the said keys driven in. until the shoulders 5| thereof engage the opposite edges ll of the rail bases. Springs 54 are next inserted through the threaded openings in the keys 4| and the screws applied. When these screws enter the depressions '53 the keys are heid in position and the rails become attached to the tie plates.

My invention in addition to holding the rails in position, prevents creepage of the rails relative to the ties. Toward this end the tie plates are preferably alternately arranged in reversed manner on the various \ties so that the keys are inserted from opposite ends of the tie plates on alternate ties. Due to the tapering of the beveled face of the abutments of the tie plates, the

tie plate are constructed with keys are caused to travel along the dovetailed grooves when there is any creepage of the rails. This causes wedge action, clamping the edges of the rail base securely between the shoulders of the tie plates which has the effect of restraining longitudinal movement of the rails. By reversing alternate tie plates, resistance to movement of the rails in either direction can be procured. It will thus be seen that the invention not only serves to hold the rails attached to the ties, but also serves to prevent creepage of the rails longitudinally with respect to the ties.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a slight modification of the invention in which the supporting or bearing surface of the tie plate is constructed somewhat difierently than that shown in Fig. 3. The supporting surface there illustrated is designated by the reference numeral 53 and is cylindrical in form having its axis situated longitudinally. The curvature of this surface is preferably the same as the curvature of the concavity or hollow It of the rail base I4. The corners 64 of the surface 53 are cut down so as to afford relief from pressure against the rail base at such localities. This serves the same purpose as the portion 51 of surface 32 in the other form of the invention.

In Figs. 9, 10, l1 and 12 I have shown another form of my invention. In these views the rails are designated by the numerals I III and I Illa and the tie plate which cooperates with the rails by the numeral II I. These parts will now be described in detail.

The rail III} is constructed with a head II2 on which the wheels of the rolling stock carried by the track travel and a Web II3 connected thereto. The web II3 issues upwardly from a base I I4 which is of a suitable width to give the desired support to the rail. The undersurface IIE of the base H4 has a concavity II6 throughout the central area thereof and is flat in proximity to the lateral edges II! and II 8 thereof. The upper surfaces I23 and I2I of the base II4 are constructed similar to the rail III.

The tie plate I II comprises a plate-like body portion I28 which is of a suitable length and of a Width considerably greater than the width of the rail base II4. This body portion has issuing upwardly from it two spaced abutments I29 and I39 which are disposed a distance apart greater than the width of the rail base H4, and which are disposed inwardly from the lateral edges of the tie plate to provide an intervening portion I3I which is constructed with a bearing surface I32 on which the rail rests and with marginal portions I33 and I34 by means of which the tie plate may be secured to the tie. The under surface I35 of the tie plate may be constructed either as shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 8, the form illustrated being similar to that shown in Fig. 8, except that the curved protuberance I69 thereof is narrower to fit the concavity II5.

The edge II8 of the rail base I I4 is adapted to extend up to a substantially vertical shoulder I36 formed on abutment I39 which limits the movement of the said rail laterally in one direction. This abutment is formed with an overhanging flange I3l which overlies the base II4 of the rail III] and which restrains movement of this portion of the base away from the tie plate. In actual use the distance between the flange I3! and the body portion I3I of the tie plate is somewhat greater than the thickness of the rail base H4 at the edge II 8 thereof. This provides clearance between the flange I31 and said base II4 permitting a slight relative movement between rail base and tie plate and preventing excess pumping of the ties.

The abutment I29 as previously brought out is spaced from the edge II! of the rail base H4. The face I39 of this abutment forms another shoulder similar to the shoulder I36 of abutment I30. This shoulder is beveled, being closest to the rail base at its upper end so as to form a longitudinally extending dovetailed groove I40 in conjunction with the edge II"! of said rail base. Cooperating with this groove is a key I4I which functions in a manner similar to abutment I 30 and flange I 31 to engage the rail base on the opposite side thereof and to hold the same securely attached to the tie plate. This key may be constructed of a relatively softer material than the tie plate or rail to take up the Wear occasioned through lateral strains.

The key I4I includes a longitudinally extending tongue I42 which is dovetailed and of such dimensions as to fit within the dovetailed groove I43. This key is preferably of a length less than the distance between ties or tie plates so that the said key may be readily inserted into the groove I 49 and slid longitudinally thereof until the same occupies the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The key MI is constructed with an overhanging flange I43 which overlies the upper surface I2I of the rail base II4 adjacent the edge II! thereof and which serves a purpose similar to that of the flange I 31 on abutment I30. This flange in normal position is also slightly spaced from the upper surface I2I of the rail base II4 to permit of slight movement of the said base away from the tie plate. The tongue I42 of key MI is constructed with a shoulder II which corresponds to the shoulder I36 of abutment I30.

This shoulder engages the edge II! of rail base H4, and is constructed arcuate as best shown in Fig. 9 so as to engage the edge of the rail at one locality intermediate the ends of the tie plate. This feature of the invention compensates for irregularities in construction of the tie plate and rail and concentrates the pressure on the rail at a predetermined locality.

The key MI is held in position with respect to the tie plate by means of a screw I44. This screw is formed with a wrench head I45 by means of which the same may be rotated and also has a threaded shank I46 adapted to screw into threads I 41 formed in the upper portion of the key I42. The intermediate portion 2I6 of the shank I455 of screw #44 is turned down to eliminate the threads and the extreme end I48 of said shank is further reduced in diameter to form a shoulder H 9 adjacent the intermediate portion 2I6. The reduced end 548 of screw I44 serves as a lug for limiting movement of the key with respect to the tie plate. This lug enters a transverse slot M9 in the body portion I3I which is of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the lug I48 and of a length greater than the diameter of said lug so as to permit transverse movement of the key Id! with respect to the rail III]. The shoulder I I9 seats against the upper surface I32 of the body portion I3I of the plate HI and as the screw is rotated causes the key I4I to travel upwardly. Upward movement of the key causes the tongue 542 of said key to travel upwardly along the beveled face I39 of abutment I29, which urges the shoulder I5I into engagement With the edge In of the rail base H4. The screw I44 may travel laterally by reason of the slot I 49 to accommodate movement of the key toward the rail. A

plete new tie plates.

notch I20 in abutment I29 receives the intermediate portion 2I8 of screw I44, when the key is in its farthermost position with respect to the edge II'I of rail base II4.

Encircling the shank I46 of screw I44 and seated against the head I45 of said screw and the flange I43 of key MI, is a compression coil spring I50. This spring serves to prevent accidental rotation of the screw I44 and holds the parts in adjusted position.

For the purpose of attaching the tie plate to a tie the marginal portions I33 and I34 of the body portion I28 of the tie plate are constructed with rectangular holes I6I extending therethrough through which suitable rail spikes I62 may be driven into the tie proper.

The manner of using my invention is as follows: After the ties have been laid the tie plates are applied to the ties and positioned thereon by means of a suitable rail gauge. The tie plates are then attached to the ties by means of rail spikes I62 which are driven through the holes IBI formed in the marginal portions I33 and I34 of the body portion I28 of the tie plate and into the ties. After the tie plates are in position, the rails are placed thereon and the bases thereof moved under the flanges I31 of the tie plates and until the edges H8 of said rails engage the shoulders E36 of the tie plate. Keys I4I are now applied by inserting the tongues I42 thereof into the grooves thereof and said tongues slid along the grooves until the threaded openings in said keys register with the slots M9. Screws I44 with springs I53 encircling the shanks thereof are next screwed into the threads I41 until the lugs I48 enter the slots I49, and shoulders II9 seat against the surfaces I32 of the tie plates. As the screws are further screwed into the keys the said keys raise and slide along the beveled faces I3I of abutments I29. This crowds the shoulders I5I of the keys against the edge In of the rail base and clamps the rail securely in position.

My invention is highly advantageous in that an extremely simple and practical construction is provided whereby rails may be properly supported and attached to the ties and to one another. Tie plates constructed in accordance with my invention may be produced at an economical cost. The attachment of the rails to the tie plates is exceedingly simple and can be procured in a minimum length of time. With my invention, less parts are required than with other similar tie plates now in common use for the purpose. With my invention breakage of the rail base is greatly reduced and the rail caused to properly seat upon the tie plate. My improved tie plate is considerably lighter in weight than the tie plates now used and in addition is fully as strong. There are no fragile parts to break or get out of order with my invention and where wear occurs, shims may be readily applied to take up the Wear. With my invention the greater part of the wear occurs on the keys when the keys are constructed of a softer material and when wear becomes excessive, new keys may be susbstituted without requiring com- Both the rail and splice bars are strengthened by means of the construction used with my invention.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, two parallel abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove said face having sufiicient angularity and said key being of suitable width to restrain removal of the key upwardly, a depression in said tie plate and a lug attachable to said key and adapted to enter said depression, said lug limiting the movement of said tongue relative to said groove.

2. A tie plate for application to the base of a ,rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, two parallel abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the'base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove said face having sufiicient angularity and said key being of suitable width to restrain removal of the key upwardly, a depression in said tie plate and a screw threaded into said key and having a lug thereon adapted to enter said depression, said lug limiting the movement of said tongue relative to said groove.

3. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, two parallel abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form. a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove said face having sufficient angularity and said key being of suitable width to restrain removal of the key upwardly, said key and tie plate having juxtaposed parts, one of said parts being formed with a depression and the other of said parts having 2. lug detachably secured thereto and entering said depression, said lug restraining longitudinal movement of said tongue relative to said groove.

4. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, means for limiting the movement of said tongue within said groove, and resilient means acting between the tie plate and key for causing the tongue to slide along said inclined face and toward the edge of the rail base.

5. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said key and tie plate having juxtaposed parts, one of said parts being formed with a depression and the other of said parts having a screw threaded therein and entering said depres sion and a compression coil spring encircling said screw and acting between said key and tie plate for causing movement of said tongue along said inclined face and toward the edge of said rail base.

6. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said tie plate having a transverse slot therein, a screw threaded into said key and having a lug entering said slot, said slot guiding said key for movement toward and from the rail base and an abutting surface formed on the screw for engaging the tie plate, said surface operating to raise the key upon rotation of the screw in one direction to cause the key to travel along the inclined face and to be urged against the rail base.

7. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprisin a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, and formed with an arcuate shoulder for engagement with the adjoining edge of the rail, and means for urging said key upwardly to cause the same to ride along said inclined face and to force said shoulder against the edge of the rail.

8. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, two parallel abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the railbase and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, and limiting lateral movement of the rail relative to the tie plate, and restraining means attached to the key and engaging the tie plate for restraining longitudinal movement of the key relative to the tie plate.

9. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said key and tie plate having juxtaposed parts, one of said parts having a transversely extending shoulder and the other having a lug detachably secured thereto and slidably engaging said shoulder, said lug restraining longitudinal movement of said key relative to said groove.

10. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardlytherefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutinents being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, a shoulder formed on said tie plate and a lug detachably secured to said key for slidably engaging said shoulder, said lug restraining longitudinal movement of the key relative to said groove.

11. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said tie plate having a transverse slot therein and a lug on said key extending into said slot and restraining longitudinal movement of the key relative to the groove, said lug being slidable transversely and vertically in said slot.

12. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extendin upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposededge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said tie plate and key having juxtaposed parts formed with facing depressions and a resilient member disposed within both of said depressions and urging said key to move vertically relative to said tie plate.

13. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, and a resilient member acting between said key and tie plate, said resilient member holding said key in position and urging said key to move vertically relative to said tie plate.

14. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extendingly upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said tie plate having a depressiontherein,

and a reciprocable member attached to said key and having a free end adapted to engage said depression for restraining longitudinal movement of the key relative to the groove.

15. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, aloutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, and means urging said key upwardly and against said inclined face to force the key toward the rail base.

16. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, the juxtaposed abutment having a longitudinally extending groove therein extending through the inclined face thereof, and means carried by said key for engagement with said groove to limit the movement of the key relative to the tie plate.

17. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said tie plate having a transverse slot therein, a screw threaded into said key and having a lug entering said slot, said slot guiding said key for movement toward and from the rail base.

18, In combination, a support for a member having lateral surfaces, said support having a surface, abutments extending outwardly from said surface of the support, said member being disposed between said abutments with its lateral surfaces facing said abutments, one of said abutments being spaced from the corresponding lateral surface of the member and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said key approaching said last referred to surface of the member upon movement away from the surface of the support, and means acting between the support and key for urging the key away from the surface of the support.

19. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, the juxtaposed abutment having a depression therein opening toward said rail, and means carried by said key for engagement with said depression for limiting the movement of the key relative to said plate, said means urging the key to travel along said dovetailed groove and away from the tie plate.

20. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said key being narrower at both ends and being formed with a shoulder extending intermediate its ends for engagement with the edge of the rail.

21. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, a flange on said tongue overlying said abutment and means extending through said flange and engaging the tie plate for urging the tongue away from the tie plate.

22. A tie plate for application to the base of a rail comprising a body portion on which the rail rests, abutments extending upwardly therefrom and between which the base of the rail is disposed, one of said abutments being spaced from the juxtaposed edge of the rail base and being constructed with an inclined face to form a dovetailed groove therebetween, a key having a dovetailed tongue adapted to be inserted into said groove, said groove extending below the under surface of the rail base, and means for urging the key to travel along said dovetailed groove and away from the bottom of the same. I

GEORG B. ANTHONISEN. 

